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China Family Tour

Travelling across China by train and plane, this fast-paced journey takes us from the imperial palaces of Beijing to the skyscrapers of Hong Kong. Trip highlights include Xian’s Terracotta Army (and making your own army figure), giant pandas in Chengdu and the rural town of Yangshuo. We also walk through the vast Dragon’s Backbone rice terraces, stay in traditional village houses, fly kites and meet the local huang and Dong tribes and enjoy their traditional singing and dancing.

Tour Highlights

Beijing - Walk along the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Explore Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Xian - Meet the famous Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huangdi.

Villages and Rice Terraces - Homestays and hikes amongst the rural villages of the Dong and the Zhuang.

Yangshuo - Float through the beautiful karst landscapes of the Li River.

Itinerary

1

Join tour Beijing

Arrive Beijing and check-in at hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax,or perhaps explore something of our local surroundings and acclimatise a little to the enigma that is Beijing.

Our hotel in Beijing was established by the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau of Hunan Province and is close to the Temple of Heaven, Taoranting Park and the railway station hotel and is 30 minutes-walk to the Tiananmen Square. All rooms have satellite TV, a safety box and Internet Access. There are a number of restaurants, one of which is known for its Hunan cuisine and serves Chinese and Western style dinners. There is a tea garden serving Chinese and Western drinks, chess and card room and even a foot massage room. Foreign exchange and laundry are also available.

Overnight: Standard Hotel

Included Meals:
None

2

Free in Beijing to visit Tiananmen Square.

Today offers a chance to explore something of a city that has been at the centre of China, politically and culturally, since the days of the great Kublai Khan. You could pay a visit to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, home to the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors for over 500 years. Other options include a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a trip out to the Summer Palace, or a tour of the city's fascinating hutongs (traditional alleys and backstreets) by rickshaw.

Overnight: Standard Hotel

Included Meals:
Breakfast

3

Drive to the Great Wall at Mutianyu and fly kites by the wall or the Olympic stadium. Overnight train to Xian

This morning we drive by private bus to Mutianyu, some 125 kilometres to the north-east of the city, to pay a visit to China's famous Great Wall. One of the country's most iconic symbols, the Great Wall stretches from the China Sea to the Gobi desert, a journey of over 5,000 kilometres. The section we visit today is one of the best preserved parts of the wall, built over 400 years ago during the Ming dynasty. Over 10 kilometres in length, this magnificent structure crosses five mountain passes and features two beacon towers and nearly 70 watchtowers. We then fly kites either by the Great Wall or the square by the Birds Nets stadium, the main venue of the Beijing Olympic Games. Try out this ancient Chinese tradition as you battle with the wind to reach for the sky.This evening we then take the overnight train to Xian.

Overnight: Basic Overnight Train

Included Meals:
Breakfast

4

Free day to explore the Shaanxi National Museum or the Muslim Quarter

We arrive in Xian early this morning and walk the short distance to our hotel in time for breakfast. The rest of the day is then free to make the most of China's old imperial capital. You might like to pay a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 64 metre high structure that offers some superb views out across the city. Another possibility is a visit to the Shaanxi National Museum. Alternatively, the network of alleys that make up the city's Muslim Quarter provide an excellent destination for a day of exploring.

The hotel in Xian offers good sized rooms with en-suite facilities and internet connection, TV, air-conditioning and a tea/coffee maker. Hotel facilities include a restaurant, fitness/health centre, sauna, laundry service, safety deposit boxes and Wi-Fi. The hotel is located close to the railway station with the bus for the Terracotta Warriors leaving from across the road.

Overnight: Simple Hotel

Included Meals:
Breakfast

5

Visit the Terracotta Warriors and Workshop and Calligraphy Class

Today we visit one of China's most famous sights, the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Travelling by private bus, we spend three to four hours exploring this incredible site, visiting the three excavated pits that hold, literally, thousands of life-sized archers, soldiers and charioteers. Buried here to guard the tomb of China's first emperor, the Terracotta Army is considered to be one of the greatest archaeological finds of the last century. Before experiencing the site, we visit a workshop close by where we witness the making of smaller versions of the Terracotta figures which gives some idea of the challenge that the Chinese craftsmen had when making the life sizes equivalent. Returning to Xian, we then travel onto the Tang Art Museum where we try our hand at the ancient art of calligraphy which of course is Chinese letter writing - learn how to write your name in this ancient communication style. Returning to Xian by public bus.

Overnight: Simple Hotel

Included Meals:
Breakfast

6

Morning flight to Chengdu. Free day

A morning flight to Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan Province, brings us to a city that once marked the starting point of the old southern Silk Road. Set along the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, Chengdu can trace its ancestry back over 2,500 years and is famed throughout China for its food and its embroidery. The city is also home to the world famous Panda Breeding and Research Centre which lies just on the outskirts of the city. On arrival, the rest of the day is free to relax.

The hotel has a prime location located close to the train station and city centre. The rooms have a traditional Oriental style design and offers en-suite facilities and internet connection. The restaurant serves a variety of local dishes with a charming café and cocktail lounge to complement the dining facility. There is also a laundry service, safety deposit boxes, salon, fitness centre, sauna and impressive lobby.

Overnight: Standard Hotel

Included Meals:
Breakfast

7

Visit Chengdu Panda Research Centre. Overnight train to Sanjiang

This morning we travel by private bus to the Panda Research Centre, to see for ourselves an animal that has become synonymous with China itself. Home to numerous free roaming Giant Pandas, the ultimate aim of the centre is to reintroduce these rare animals back into the wild, in such numbers as to ensure their survival. To that end, the centre has enjoyed an extraordinary level of success with new-born pandas over the past few years. After our visit we return to Chengdu to catch the overnight train on to Sanjiang.

Overnight: Basic Overnight Train

Included Meals:
Breakfast

8

Arrive Sanjiang and transfer to Ma An Zhai Village; village walks

Arriving in Sanjiang early this afternoon, we take private minivans on to Ma An Zhai, a Dong minority village that lies amongst the forested hills along the Hunan, Guizhou and Guangxi borders. One of over 55 minority groups that live in this region, the Dong are renowned for their architecture, particularly their covered bridges and multi-storey drum towers. This afternoon we have a chance to see some of these remarkable structures ourselves, on a walk between the villages. We follow a fairly level path and pass through three Dong villages on our route as well as taking time to visit the local school and small market. The walk takes approximately 3 hours. We spend the night in village houses with a chance to learn about this rural and traditional way of life.

The guesthouse is small and simply but clean and airy, with air-conditioned and en-suite rooms designed in a typical Chinese style and is located in the Tong village close to the Rain and Wind Bridges with good views of river. There are ample opportunities to walk around the villages and also to enjoy the Tong village show. Wi-Fi is available.

Overnight: Simple Guesthouse

Included Meals:
None

9

Drive to Pingan Village; village walks

The village of Pingan sits perched on the central ridge of the Dragon's Backbone, a visually stunning series of rice terraces that runs along the meandering contours of surrounding hills. Driving there this afternoon, we take a walk around the village, meeting some of the local Zhuang people and taking in the unique agricultural feat of engineering that has created this remarkable landscape. Todays walk follows the rice terraces and there are a lot of steps along the route, we take our time to enjoy the views and take plenty of breaks to rest our legs. We walk for approximately three hours in total.

The guesthouse in Pingan is a small family run hotel set in a wooden style building design. There are good views of the local area and over the rice terraces from the balcony. The guesthouse gives a good location to wander around the surrounding area and discover the local village. The rooms are simple but clean with air conditioning, TV and internet access in the lobby.

Overnight: Simple Guesthouse

Included Meals:
Breakfast

10

Morning walk to Longji Village. Afternoon drive to Yangshou

The Zhuang migrated into this region of China over 5,000 years ago and today represent the largest of the country's minority groups. Skilled in weaving and embroidery, the Zhuang follow a fascinating tradition of beliefs that are deeply rooted in the power of nature. This morning we take a walk for around three hours to another Zhuang village at Longji following a flat path. We then drive on to the small market town of Yangshou late this afternoon. Nestling besides the banks of the Li River, Yangshou lies amongst what many consider to be some of the most scenic landscapes in China.

The hotel in Yangshuo has tastefully decorated rooms with air-conditioning and heating, private bathrooms, radio, TV and phone. It is easy walking distance from the centre and close to the famous Western Street and a local food market that opens in the evening. There is a bar and lounge area, shopping arcade and Chinese and Western Restaurants. The hotel also offers laundry service, safe-deposit box and even shoe shine facility. There is a bank next door for currency exchange.

Overnight: Standard Hotel

Included Meals:
Breakfast

11

Morning cooking lesson with optional cycle ride or raft along the Li River

We visit a cooking school in the city where the whole family learn how to prepare a number of traditional Chinese dishes using local produce for our lunch today. The afternoon is free for you to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful riverside town or you may want to hire bikes and cycle out into the surrounding countryside, climb to the top of 'Moon Hill' for some wonderful views across the open plains and out to the distant mountains or try a rafting trip along the Li River. A wander through the town's local market offers a chance to barter for everything from batiks and silk paintings to Chairman Mao's Little Red Book. If you decide to try bamboo rafting we recommend you are confident swimming 25 metres unaided.

Overnight: Standard Hotel

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

12

Morning free. Overnight train to Shenzen

After a free morning in Yangshou we then take an overnight train to Shenzen, just to the north of Hong Kong. A testament to the resurgence of China as a modern world power, Shenzen is one of the country’s most successful Special Economic Zones. It is also the end of our journey across mainland China.

Overnight: Basic Overnight Train

Included Meals:
Breakfast

13

Cross border into Hong Kong. Free on arrival

On arrival in Shenzen this morning we need to cross the border into Hong Kong by way of the Lu Wu rail connection. This requires us carrying our own bags across the border, where our local Hong Kong guide will be waiting to take us to our hotel. The rest of the day is then free to relax and enjoy one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
None

14

Free in Hong Kong

You are free to take in Kowloon’s bustling waterfront today, perhaps taking a trip on the famous Star Ferry to enjoy one of the world’s most famous cityscapes from the water. Other options include a ride on Hong Kong’s funicular railway to the top of Victoria Peak, where you can enjoy some panoramic views out across the city and the outlying islands. You could also visit the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, one of the city’s most popular shrines, or take a stroll through the stalls and markets of Li Yuen Street in search of some last minute bargains.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

15

Tour ends Hong Kong

Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Family Beijing to Hong Kong tour available at present.

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Why Book this tour

This adventure is an epic journey across China taking a number of overnight trains and a flight to cover the huge distances that are involved. Families who want to really discover a country and don't mind travel around will really enjoy this holiday - plus there are lots of added extras such as flying kites, making a Terracotta statue, visiting a Panda sanctury and a cooking lesson.